Cessna 208B N976E

Summary

On 23 September 2025 at about 00:40 local time, a Cessna 208B registered N976E, operated by Wright Air Service Inc, was involved in an accident near Healy, Alaska, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 September 2025 at 00:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Healy, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Decker Airstrip (PVT)

Coordinates

64.0061, -148.2320

Aircraft

Cessna 208B

Registration

N976E

Category

Airplane

Year built

2002

Engines

1

Operator

Wright Air Service Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Fairbanks

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

ANC25LA110

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the departure roll resulting in a collision with a tractor/loader.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the departure roll from a remote, rough, and uneven gravel-and-dirt airstrip, the airplane encountered a bounce. As a result, the pilot’s foot inadvertently slipped off the rudder pedal, leading to a loss of directional control. The airplane veered to the left, toward a tractor/loader parked adjacent to the airstrip. The pilot elected to abort the takeoff; however, during the deviation, the airplane passed the tractor/loader on its left side. Although the pilot was able to bring the airplane to a stop, she was unaware that the left wing had struck the tractor/loader. Subsequently, the pilot taxied the airplane back to the departure end of the airstrip and conducted another takeoff, which was uneventful. The flight continued to the intended destination without further incident. Following arrival, a postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the left wing spar cap assembly consistent with impact with the tractor/loader. The operator reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.